Review: Dare Me by Rebecca Shea

DARE ME

by

REBECCA SHEA

Three Words.

That’s all it takes to change your life.

Undeniably sexy, Commanding, and Off Limits…

Meet Holt Hamilton in Rebecca Shea’s DARE ME.

Danger, mysterious pasts, and passion come together in this new standalone contemporary romance novel from USA Todaybestselling author, Rebecca Shea. Can Saige and Holt get over the past in order to have a future? Pick up DARE ME today and immerse yourself in the unforgettable moments where one dare spirals out of control and changes lives.

I dare you.

– SYNOPSIS –

Five coworkers.

Four drinks.

Three glances.

Two fleeting smiles.

One dare.

A dare that will change my life.

That’s all it takes to send me plummeting into the arms of the mysterious Holt Hamilton. Behind his crystal blue eyes is a secret, one that screams danger but calls to me anyway.

My name is Saige Phillips.

I never walk away from a dare.

– REVIEW –

Saige Phillips’ life changes irrevocably on her thirteenth birthday. Despondent over his financial failures, her father commits suicide, and it is Saige who hears the gunshot and finds her father. Ten years later, Saige begins a new chapter in her life. Recruited by the firm, Jackson-Hamilton Aviation, Saige lands a dream job designing custom interiors for private aircraft owners. She loves her work, the posse of friends she’s made at the firm, and by all outward appearances, Saige seems to thrive. But by night Saige is haunted by horrific nightmares, and by day, Saige struggles to contain her growing attraction to her boss, Holt Hamilton.

Sigh. Meet Holt Hamilton — self-made millionaire, part owner of Jackson-Hamilton — Henry Cavill lookalike. Holt seems to have it all — looks, money, youth. He’s a master at self-control until he lays eyes upon his new designer, Saige. Familiar with her on paper, Holt finds himself besotted with Saige Phillips. But Holt has secrets of his own that conflict with any possible pursuit of Saige.

One night, acting on a dare, both Saige and Holt’s lives barrel towards their inevitable fate.

Rebecca Shea’s Dare Me may seem like a familiar plot, and in some instances, it does feel predictable. But there is a compelling twist to this story that kept this reader’s interest to the very end.

Saige Phillips is a damaged soul, and Shea does a fine job in getting the reader into the head of this wounded woman. While at times, it seemed to this reader that Saige’s behavior was erratic and contradictory, it could be said that it was in keeping with someone who suffers from PTSD.

The character of Holt is a little more opaque, but, again, there is purpose in that characterization. Although this reader found the comparisons to Henry Cavill a bit redundant, they prove useful during some very well written off-the-charts sex scenes. (So Thank You, Rebecca Shea!)

The secondary characters of Saige’s office gang are well crafted, and are crucial to the plot while providing some necessary comic relief. Their dialogue is sharp and witty, their interactions delightful and very reminiscent of Candace Bushnell’s Sex in the City gang. At one point, the character of Rowan actually tells Holt to “Go bring our girl home” (Kindle Loc. 3086 of 3604). Every appearance of these characters was welcomed by this reader.

Dare Me is difficult to characterize. Although the ancillary characters set an initially charming and comedic tone, this novel isn’t a light adult romance. The plot is filled with angst and a bit of horror due to a very graphic suicide scene. The sexual situations absolutely fall under the category of erotica, so mature audiences only.

Ultimately a satisfying read, be warned to buckle up — Dare Me is an emotional roller coaster ride.

– ABOUT THE AUTHOR –

REBECCA SHEA

Rebecca Shea is the USA Today Bestselling author of the Unbreakable series (Unbreakable, Undone, and Unforgiven) and the Bound and Broken series (Broken by Lies and Bound by Lies). She lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her family. From the time Rebecca could read she has had a passion for books. Rebecca spends her days working and her nights writing, bringing stories to life. Born and raised in Minnesota, Rebecca moved to Arizona in 1999 to escape the bitter winters. When not working or writing, she can be found on the sidelines of her sons’ football games, or watching her daughter at ballet class. Rebecca is fueled by insane amounts of coffee, margaritas, Laffy Taffy (except the banana ones), and happily ever afters.